Expanding tool



April 26, 1932. J 'R TUMBUN 1,855,430

EXPANDING TOOL Filed Jan. 29, 1930 IRS/2007196 Patented Apr. 26, 1932 S PAT NT OFFICE JAMES RALPH TUMBLIN, OF FOUNTAIN INN, SOUTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR F FIFTY- FIVE PER GENT TO T. DPWOOD, OF FOUNTAIN INN, SOUTH CAROLINA EXr NmNG TOOL Application filed January 29, 1930. Serial No. 424,315.

The present invention relates to an expanding tool or wrench and mor-eparticularly to improved means for spreading the opposed aligned sections of a pipe, so as'to connect meters or the like thereto.

In installing water meters, it not infrequently isvery difficult to space the opposed pipe sections of the supply main. This is often due to the confined working space available and the lack of a suitable tool for moving the pipe sections a sufficient distance so as to accommodate the water meter.

An essential object of the present invention is to provide a simple, efficient, compact and economical tool or wrench for expeditiously expanding the aligned sections of a pipe,,so

that any type of meter may be connected to the pipe sections at a minimum expenditure of time and labor.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which is dis- 25 closed a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing my tool applied to the pipe sections for separating opposed ends thereof.

Figure 2 is a side view showing a water meter connected to the separated pipe sections.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of one end of the tool.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts in the several views, 10 11 denote aligned pipe sections of a supply main in which it is desired to install a water meter or the like.

In order that the opposed ends of the sec tions 10 and 11 may be separated to accommodate the meter 12 (Fig. 2), an expanding tool 13 is provided, which tool is preferably- 50 section 11 and a shank l5 of'substantially the same external diameter as the interior diameter of the pipe sections.

The opposite end of the tool 13 is preferably externally threaded as at 16, so as to fit within the complementary internally threaded recess 17 in the movable block 18, i

and 11 away from each other preferably by means of an operating lever 21, which is loosely mounted on the tool 13 as at 22 and is confined between a locking collar 23 that is non-rotatably secured to the tool and a ratchet wheel 24-, that fits on a polygonal portion 25, (Fig. 3), of the tool. The teeth 26 of the ratchet wheel are arrangedto sclectively engage the faces 27 and 28 of the dog or pawl 29, that is pivotally connected to the operating lever 21 by the bolt 30.

It will be seen that upon engagement of the face 28 of the dog 29 with the teeth 26, that the actuation of the handle 21 will cause the tool 13 to be rotated in a clockwise direction (Fi 3), which in turn moves the block 18 axiallyand outwardly relative to the tool. Conversely, when the dog 29 is swung about its axis so as to bring the face 27 into engagement with the teeth 26, the tool 13 will be moved in a counter-clockwise direction which moves the block 18 inwardly relative to the threaded end 16.

Assuming it is desired to install a water meter such as 12 in a supply main, the same may be done at a minimum expenditure of time and labor, by inserting the end portions 15 and 20 of the tool in the opposed severed to the tool. The face 28 of the dog 29 is then brought into engagement with one of the teeth on the ratchet wheel 24 and the operating handle 21 is actuated which in turn causes the block 18 to move axially and outwardly, thus expanding the opposed pipe sections and 11 until the desired space has been formed therebetween for connecting the inlet nipple and outlet nipple 31 of the meter 12 to each of their adjacent pipe sections.

If the meter to be installed is not of standard dimensions or if the space to be provided between the pipe sections 10 and 11 is wider than that which the maximum degree of movement of the block 18 could be extended, additional inter-fitting sections may be added to the blocks to increase the length thereof, which sections as shown in Fig. 4, preferably. comprise one or more cylindrical blocks 32, each of which has a recess 33 in one end thereof arranged to receive the reduced stem 20 of the block 18. The opposite end of the block 32 is in the form of a reduced stem 34, of substantially the same diameter as the stem 20 and may fit either within the bore of 5 the pipe sections or extend into a complementary recess formed in a similarly constructed block so that the tool may be adjusted to varying lengths. 7

After the sections 10 and 11 have been expanded to the desired degree the tool and its associated parts may be readily removed, to allow the meter to be installed by bringing the face 27 of the dog 29 into engagement with the teeth 26 and actuating the handle 21, so that the block 18 will be moved inwardly and away from the pipe section 10.

Any suitable form of coupling, such as the nuts 35, (Fig. 2), may be employed for connecting the pipe sections to the meter 12. Additionally, the pawl 29 and its associated parts may be enclosed by any suitable housing connected to the handle 21.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is merely illustrative of a preferred embodian internally threaded recess engaging the threaded portion of said bar, the outer end of said block having a reduced shoulder portion arranged to fit in the other of the pipe .sections, a ratchet wheel non-rotatably secured to said bar between the ends thereof, an operating lever loosely mounted on said bar, a dog pivoted to said lever and engaging fitting sections and having one end provided with an internally threaded recess engaging the threaded portion of said bar, the outer end of said block having a reduced shoulder portion arranged to fit in the other of the pipe sections and means for rotating the bar to cause axial movement of the movable block relative thereto, and for expanding the pipe sections engaged by said shoulder portions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES RALPH TUMBLIN. 

